Means of transport

Abstract: A means of transport, in particular a two-wheeler, is provided with a frame supported by running wheels, with an electromotor, by means of which at least one of the running wheels (1) can be rotated, and with at least one battery (18,19) provided on the frame for supplying energy to the electromotor, characterized in that the battery is disposed near the wheel hub (2) of one of the wheel.

Description: The invention relates to a means of transport, in particular a two-weeler, provided with a frame supported by running wheels, with an electromotor, by means of which at least one of said running wheels can be rotated, and with at least one battery provided on the frame for supplying energy to said electromotor, wherein said battery or batteries is/are disposed close to the wheel hub of one of the wheels and are supported by a support fixed to one of the tubes forming a fork of the means of transport. With respect to such a means of transport (DE-A-4000960), in particular a bicycle equipped with an auxiliary motor in the shape of an electromotor, it has been proposed to mount the required battery (batteries) on a disc-shaped plate extending perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the running wheel, whereby said plate has been fixed to a fork of the bicycle at some distance above the shaft of the running wheel. According to the invention the support is of U-shaped section and the hub of the wheel supported by said fork extends between the legs of said U-shaped support. By using the construction according to the invention the battery or batteries can be incorporated in the wheel of the means of transport in an advantageous manner, so that the battery or batteries do(es) not form an impeding attachment to the means of transport, whilst at the same time the position of the battery or batteries do(es) not have an adverse effect on the position of the centre of gravity of the means of transport. The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the accompanying Figures. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a rear wheel of a means of transport with two batteries, wherein the various parts are shown some distance apart. Figure 2 is a perspective view of parts of the wheel of the means of transport, which are shown some distance apart. As is shown in Figures 1 and 2 the wheel 1 of a means of transport,in particular a two-wheeler such as for example described in the applicant's prior Dutch Patent Application No. 9300321, comprises a dome-shaped disc 2, to whose circumference a rim 3 is secured. A pneumatic tyre 4 is fitted on the rim 3 in a usual manner. A hub 6 is mounted in the centre of the dome-shaped disc 2 by means of a supporting plate 5. Furthermore one or more chain wheels are secured to said supporting plate 5. A second dome-shaped disc 8 may be fixed to the wheel 1, near the inner circumference of the rim 3, in such a manner that a space is defined between the two dome-shaped discs 2 and 8. The dome-shaped disc 8 has a large opening 9 in its centre and an annular strip 10, which extends in the direction of the opposite dome-shaped means 2, is secured to the boundary edge of said opening. The wheel 1 can be supported, in the manner shown in Figure 1, by the two tubes 11 and 12 for example forming a rear fork of a bicycle, by means of a pin 13, which can be passed through holes 14 provided in the ends of the tubes 11 and 12 and through the hub 6 for this purpose. A support 15, of U-shaped section in the illustrated embodiment, is secured to the end of the tube 11, the construction being such that in mounted condition of the wheel the hub 6 extends between the two legs of said U-shaped support 15 and said support 15 is located in the space within the wheel bounded by the annular strip 10. This space can be covered at the side remote from the closed dome-shaped disc 2, by means of a cover 16 closing the opening 9. Said cover is provided with a slotted hole 17, which radially extends from a boundary edge of the cover 16 to beyond the centre of the cover. Said slotted hole 17 is necessary in order to be able fit the cover 16 after the wheel has been mounted in the rear fork or the like. The cover 16 may be provided with a suitable locking device for fixing the cover to the wheel 1. The support 15 is used for supporting two batteries 18 and 19, which function to supply energy to an electromotor (not shown) mounted on the means of transport, by means of which said means of transport can be driven. As is indicated by arrows A and B, the battery 18 may be provided on top of the support 15, whilst the battery 19 may be placed against the bottom side of said support, after which said batteries may be connected to the support 15 by means of clamping straps 20 and 21 respectively so as to be readily detachable. It will be apparent that since the batteries 18 and 19 are disposed in the centre of the wheel said batteries do not form impeding projections and will not affect the position of the centre of gravity of the means of transport thereby. The space in which the batteries are arranged within the wheel is readily accessible through the opening which can be closed with the removable cover 16, so that the batteries are readily accessible or exchangeable when they need to be recharged. Furthermore it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment of the wheel. Thus it will for example be possible to use dome-shaped discs having a smaller diameter, whereby the outer circumferences of such dome-shaped discs may for example be connected to the rim 3 by spoke-shaped means.

Claims: A means of transport, in particular a two-wheeler, provided with a frame supported by running wheels (1), with an electromotor, by means of which at least one of said running wheels can be rotated, and with at least one battery (18, 19) provided on the frame for supplying energy to said electromotor, wherein said battery or batteries (18, 19) is/are disposed close to the wheel hub (6) of one of the wheels, and are supported by a support (15) fixed to one of the tubes (11, 12) forming a fork of the means of transport, characterised in that the support (15) is of U-shaped section and the hub of the wheel supported by said fork extends between the legs of said U-shaped support. A means of transport according to claim 1, characterised in that a central space (2, 8) for accommodating the battery or batteries (18, 19) is formed in the wheel (1), which space can be closed by means of a cover (16) located at one side of the wheel (1). A means of transport according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a dome-shaped disc (2) abuts a hub (6) of the wheel (1), by means of which said hub (6) is connected to a rim (3) of the wheel (1). A means of transport according to claim 3, characterised in that said disc (2) abuts the rim with its outer circumference. A means of transport according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the outer circumference of said disc (2) is connected to the rim (3) by spoke-shaped means. A means of transport according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wheel (1) comprises two opposite dome-shaped discs (2, 8), between which the battery or batteries (18, 19) is/are disposed. A means of transport according to claim 6, characterised in that an opening (9), which can be closed, is provided in the centre of one of said dome-shaped discs (8). A means of transport according to claim 7, characterised in that near the boundary edge of said opening (9) an annular strip (10) is secured to the dome-shaped disc (8) provided with an opening (9), said strip (10) surrounding the space accommodating the battery or batteries (18, 19).

Inventors: MABUCHI TAKASHI, MABUCHI, TAKASHI
Applicants: YAMAHA MOTOR EUROP, YAMAHA MOTOR EUROPE N.V.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B62M23
IPC codes: B62K7, B62J11, B62M23, B60K25, B62M7